It's time for another edition of "Anime-Planet Recommends...", where each week we showcase some of the anime you recommend people might like on Anime-Planet.
In last week's column, we did something a little different and showcased unusual pairings with some of your favorite anime. You gave awesome feedback about the article, so this week, let's do something similar. These recommendations are from or for a time period that I think many of us watched anime in, the early 2000s. Not all of these are available here on Crunchyroll due to their age, but most are available through legal means in some way or another. Sit back, grab a cup of nostalgia and enjoy this week's recs!
If you're like me, you're a fan of the late and great Satoshi Kon. While plenty of his titles skew towards the psychological or the thriller (I'm looking at you, Paprika and Paranoia Agent!), he's also put out a few on the heartwarming side. In that vein, you might appreciate Millennium Actress or one of my all-time favorites, Tokyo Godfathers.
AirCommodore says:
"Most of Satoshi Kon's works are really screwed up and psychological, but Tokyo Godfathers and Millenium Actress are actually really heartwarming and sweet, with a bit of humor thrown in, and some really wonderfully-realized characters. Truely excellent."
Planetes. Hard sci fi extraordinaire, and in my opinion one of the best manga out there. Many think it's a great pairing with Space Brothers (available here on CR!)
kargarus has this to say:
"Though tackled from different angles, a main focus of these series is Space. Candidates in Uchuu Kyoudai are applying to become astronauts while the cast of Planetes are already in orbit...gathering garbage.
While Planetes has a much stronger (and very enjoyable) focus on sci-fi, both sport slice of life aspects. This gives us a chance to get to know and support a lovable bunch of characters in both series. Arguably, Planetes is an all round superior show - but I'm sure fans of this will find something to like in Uchuu Kyoudai. On the flip side, if you've watched Uchuu Kyoudai and are craving something with a harder sci-fi edge, then Planetes is just the show for you!"
Everyone out there has seen Code Geass - but what about CLAMP's 2001 title, X TV?
CuthienSilmeriel thinks this is a decent pairing because:
"Both X TV and Code Geass are about a young male lead who is gifted with supernatural powers and holds the fate of civilization in his hands. Also both Lelouch and Kamui suffer hardships and heartaches, as well as difficult decisions. These anime have a very similar feel and while the plot lines vary greatly the characters of Lelouch and Kamui are very similar; both show a cold exterior whilst actually being quite caring inside. Both anime aren't afraid of a high death count either."
I think many of us have a soft spot in our hearts for Kenshin: Tsuiokohen (aka the first OVA), or at least remember the feels :(
Some similar titles you might not have seen include Sword of the Stranger:
awpaperwings says:
"The main characters of these shows both have a desire to express to people that war is not great and glorious, but is bloody and filled with regret later. In both OVA's the main character is very sullen, and ends up traveling with a companion that they must protect. Although the storyline is very different in each, both are animated very well and contain a rich, well developed story."
And also Basilisk.
tasanime explains:
"It is more than just action, blood and violence that connects the two but the deeper meaning that really binds them. The leads are pawns for a greater purpose, going to great lengths to win battles at the cost of conflicting loyalties. Both will make you feel sorrow for those who must fight with the repercussions of their actions hidden, ultimately at a greater loss to themselves. Seriously, you must watch them both!"
Let's talk about Full Metal Panic.
GONZO's 2002 anime was very popular at the time, though I rarely hear people talking about it nowadays. If you miss Sousuke and Kaname's antics, here's a few titles to check out.
First up, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet.
snivets says:
"The two main male characters from FMP and Suisei no Gargantia are similar in that they're members of the military who find themselves in situations they are totally unprepared for. Whether it's Sagara navigating school life without the use of guns or grenades, or Led coming to terms with living in a society totally unlike his own, both shows show us what it might be like to make a military-to-civilian transition."
There's also the far more obscure Jinki:Extend.
chii explains:
"Both have a very high military feel to them with wonderful missions to go with it. The character interactions are fun to watch and figure out what's going on. Jinki revolves a little more around their mecha's than FMP does. If you liked one check out the other."
Fellow fanboys and fangirls of light-novel-turned-anime Twelve Kingdoms might appreciate Seirei no Moribito.
abunai says:
"There is a tradition in fantasy storytelling of picking familiar-but-not-quite settings. In Western fantasy, it is often a quasi-medieval setting. In anime, correspondingly, it is often a quasi-Chinese setting, or other familiar Asian country. In 12 Kingdoms, there is a strongly Chinese flavour to the fantasy universe -- whereas in Seirei no Moribito, the flavour is more Central Asian, quasi-Nepali. Both stories, however, deal with intrigue and battle, and have strong female protagonists. A liking for one is sure to produce a liking for the other."
Appleseed is definitely a classic - the 2000s movie version, perhaps not as much, but still a franchise to remember. Something else you might enjoy is Heat Guy J.
Nohansen explains:
"Utopia, from the Greek eutopos ("good place") and outopos ("no place"), is an ideal society created for human benefit. Utopian fiction, a genre closely related to science fiction, describes such a society. But the worlds of Appleseed and Heat Guy J are not utopian but dystopian.
Appleseed opens with the promise of an utopian society in Olympus but, as Deunan Knute soon finds out, "utopia" is an ambiguous term. In Heat Guy J, outsiders believe the city of Judoh is paradise on Earth; but for longtime resident Daisuke Aurora, Judoh is a hardboiled wonderland.
Heat Guy J and Appleseed are part of the trend of crossing noir sensibilities with science fiction themes. If you're a fan of Isaac Asimov's Robot Series, or just tech-noir in general, check them out."
Is there anyone out there who hasn't seen Gurren Lagann? If not, get yourself over to the Crunchyroll page and check it out. Newer anime fans might not have seen one of Gainax's earlier and much loved creations, FLCL.
jurexplay thinks you'd like it because;
"Well, both series start innocent and then turn out to be extremely badass. More similiarity is about the atmosphere surrounding the shows than about the plot itself. The main protagonists are shy, young boys without confidence in themselves. Throughout the show they grow up and learn about life. I think that action and characters are the best part about these anime. "
Finally, let's end things off with Gundam. Specifically, Gundam SEED, recommended with something you might not have thought of, Toward the Terra TV.
Szwagier closes things off with:
"At first glance it's mecha here, espers there - nothing in common? Well that's wrong impression. Both shows put a great deal of focus on showing the relation between fewer in numbers but phisically superior race ( Miu in Terra e, and Coordinators in Gundam Seed) and whether they can grow to understand each other, and end conflict. Both show some impressive space battles (even though one show them with Mecha, and other with Ships vs Espers). Finally through at least first half of both we are faced with "one ship escaping from swarms of enemies" situation."
That's all the time we have for now! I'm off to continue obsessing over playing the new Dragon Age, a game I emphatically recommend you check out.
And as always, add your recommendations on Anime-Planet each week for a chance to be featured in this column, and see you next time!
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Kim Cameron is the CEO and founder of Anime-Planet, a Crunchyroll partner and the world’s oldest anime and manga recommendation database site. Follow her on Twitter at @AnimePlanet or on Facebook.
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